Mechanically tensioned wall patch

ABSTRACT

This invention is an apparatus for repairing a hole in a surface with an adhesive mesh repair patch that is mechanically tensioned inward by a tensioning pin that is attached to a slat, and a method of using the same.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to the method and apparatus for repairing a holein a sheet, plate, board, fiberglass, wood, or drywall with an adhesivemesh repair patch. More particularly, the invention relates to a methodand apparatus of mechanically tensioning a mesh repair patch such thatthe repair patch is indented into the hole to be patched by a tensioningpin.

BACKGROUND

Since the advent of the drywall, and its prolific use in theconstruction of structures, methods and devices have been created torepair damaged portions of a drywall. Generally, there are two commontypes of reparable damage to a drywall: a small hole or crack; or alarge hole. Large holes are typically repaired by cutting out thedamaged section of the wall, placing a back board behind the cut-outhole and filling the cut-out hole with a comparable sized piece ofdrywall. The edges of the cut-out are then taped with paper drywall tapeor fiberglass tape, and filled in and covered with drywall compound.

Very small holes and cracks may often be repaired with just the use ofdrywall compound, by layering the drywall compound over the hole orcrack and then sanding it down to smooth it with the rest of the wall.

For holes that are too large to use just the drywall compound or toosmall to warrant the use of the cut-out and replace method, a meshrepair patch, or a mesh laminated and centered onto a smaller piece ofmetal, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,135,017, issued to Hoffman, isfrequently used. A mesh repair patch is a small piece of mesh, typicallymade out of round fiberglass threads, which is placed over the hole inthe drywall. The mesh repair patch provides a workable surface for thedrywall compound to adhere to in repairing the damage, but can leave anunsightly bulge, or fall away completely from the wall due to the weightof the drywall compound. Alternatively, metal laminate plates are rigidenough to support more weight, but leave an unsightly bulge that isdifficult to float out and hide due to the increased thickness of themetal.

There are numerous references that disclose devices and methods forrepairing holes in walls, boards, sheets, plates, fiberglass, wood, ordrywall using a mesh repair patch. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,380,382(“the '382 patent”), issued to Daniel R. Hansen, the same inventor ofthe present invention, discloses a laminate mesh repair patch that hasan adhesive located on one side of the fiberglass mesh adhered andcentered onto a smaller separate sheet of dry, water hardenable cementon the front. The mesh repair patch of the '382 patent is placed overthe hole, the sides of the patch adhere to the sides of the hole, andthe cement is wetted, allowed to set for about 5 minutes becomingpartially rigid, but still movable, and then pushed inward to form anindentation. After the indentation sets relatively hard, drywallcompound is applied to make a smooth repair. The partially rigid cementon the front of the mesh repair patch allowed the mesh laminate to bemanually indented into the hole by pushing it inward with a hand orfinger.

Although the '382 patent was a vast improvement over using the standardmesh repair patch, or metal laminate patches, without the dry, waterhardenable cement on the front, it did not entirely overcome the problemof providing a repair patch devoid of an unsightly bulge. Specifically,the '382 patent had a mesh repair patch thinner than the popular metallaminate patch, but thicker than a fiberglass mesh patch devoid of ametal plate. The '382 patent requires that the user spray water over thepatch once it is affixed over the hole and onto the wall, and rubbedwith a hand to mix the plaster. With the addition of water, the '382patch will sometimes slide off the wall, or in cold weather, will notstick at all. Also, if the plaster on the patch is not wetted and rubbedproperly, a larger, unsightly bulge may be created. Finally, it can take20 or 30 minutes, depending on atmospheric conditions, for the patchdisclosed in the '382 patent to set hard enough to complete the repair.This is a significant downside for professionals in need of an instantrepair.

Several references, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,406,107 (“the '107patent”), 6,317,952 (“the '952 patent”), and 5,033,949 (“the '949patent”), disclose wall repair devices that provide a stable surface onwhich to apply a drywall compound to repair a hole in a wall. However,none of these references incorporate an easy to use mesh repair patchand each and every one of these references involves the use of a verycomplex device or method that is difficult to use or perform. Forexample, the '107 patent, issued to Schoonbeck discloses a wall repairdevice that is comprised of two discs connected with a center bolt andnut. The larger of the two discs must be larger than the hole to berepaired and is adhered to the back of the wall. The smaller disc mustbe smaller than the hole to be repaired. The smaller disc is positionedalong the bolt and is locked in place just rearward of the hole. Thefront and smaller disc acts as a stable platform for drywall compound tobe applied. Although the device disclosed in the '107 patent couldpotentially aid in the repair of a drywall hole, the device is verycomplex and is extremely limited. Specifically, there is no easy way tomodify the discs to fit the randomly sized hole that may need to berepaired. Additionally, it is hard to imagine how the large disc fitsthrough the hole in the first place since it must necessarily be largerthan the hole.

The '952 patent discloses a device that includes a flexible plasticplate, which is bigger than the hole to be repaired and is pushed to theinside of the wall and then pulled back against the back side of thewall using a plastic zip key like device. The zip key is attached to aplastic rod, which is positioned on the outside of the wall and securelyholds the plate in place. The problem with this device is that theplastic rod is in the way when the user fills the hole with plaster ordrywall compound. Additionally, once the drywall compound hardens, theplastic zip key must be cut away as close to the hardened plaster aspossible and removed from the patching assembly along with the plasticrod. Accordingly, an additional coat of drywall compound is required tocomplete the repair and cover the zip key.

The '949 patent discloses a back disc that is held in place in a hole bya bolt while drywall compound is filled in the hole. Before the compoundis set, a front dam is attached to the bolt, and the back disc is forcedforward, which causes the compound to press forward against the dam. Theproblem with this device is that it is extremely complicated to use andrequires the user to hold the back in place while the drywall compoundis applied.

Thus, what is needed is to provide a tensioned mesh repair patch that isless complex than the prior art and much easier to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To minimize the limitations in the prior art, and to minimize otherlimitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding thepresent specification, the present invention is a method and apparatusof mechanically tensioning a mesh repair patch such that the repairpatch is indented into the hole to be patched by tensioning pin.

One embodiment of the invention is a surface repair patch comprising: apatch; a tension pin; and a slat. The patch is affixed to andsubstantially covers a front side of a hole in a surface. The slat isinserted into the hole in a surface and is affixed to a back side of thesurface on an outer edge of the hole. Preferably, the tension pin has ahead end and a free end. The head end of the tension pin is attached tothe patch. The free end of the tension pin is attached to the slat suchthat the head end is pulled toward the slat, which causes the patch toinwardly indent. Preferably, the slat has one or more apertures intowhich the free end is inserted. Alternatively, the invention may includea plurality of slat connectors that are slidably connected to the slatand are adjustable along the length of the slat. Preferably it is theseslat connectors that are used to affix the slat to the back side of thesurface on an outer edge of the hole. Typically, the patch is a flatfiberglass thread mesh repair patch that is adhesively affixed to thefront side of the hole. Preferably the slat is plastic and scored foreasily adjusting the size of the slat. Alternatively, the slat may bewood and the tension pin may be a nail or a screw. Preferably thesurface is a drywall and the hole is a hole in the drywall. The adhesiveis preferably a very strong anti-slip type adhesive that will stand upagainst the force that the tensioning pin puts on the mesh screen.Typically drywall tapes and patches used in the field of drywall are ofthe pressure sensitive type that easily allows for removing andrepositioning the device many times with little loss in adhesivequality. There are many types of anti-slip or permanent adhesives thatare acrylic, organic, water based, etc., commonly used in otherindustries such as, manufacturers of automobiles. These types ofadhesives are not used in the drywall industry. As the tension pin ispushed or turned inward, there is a force created that wants to pull themesh away from the wall at the source of the adhesive bond between thewall surface and the adhesive mesh. For the patch to create a superiorflush finish the adhesive needs to partially or completely hold the meshin place to remove the slack in the patch to have proper tensioning onthe fiberglass threads much like the strings on a guitar.

In another embodiment of the invention the apertures have one or morepawls and the tension pin has a plurality of teeth. In this manner theplurality of teeth of the tension pin ratchet past the one or more pawlsof the one or more apertures. The pawls prevent the tension pin fromsliding back out of the apertures.

In another embodiment of the invention the tension pin has one or morenodes. These nodes slide through the apertures such that the tension pinis restricted from sliding back out of the apertures.

Another embodiment of the invention is a method of applying a repairpatch to a hole in a surface, preferably comprising the steps of:affixing a slat to a back side of a surface on an outer edge of thehole; affixing a patch to a front side of the hole; providing a tensionpin, wherein the tension pin has a head end and a free end; attachingthe head end of the tension pin to the patch; attaching the free end ofthe tension pin to the slat; using the tension pin to mechanicallyindent the patch toward the slat; wherein the slat has one or moreapertures; wherein free end is attached to the slat by inserting thefree end into the one or more apertures; wherein the slat is furthercomprised of a first slat connector and a second slat connector; whereinthe first slat connector and the second slat connector are slidablyconnected to the slat and are slidably adjustable along a length of theslat; wherein the slat connectors are used to affix slat to the backside of the surface on an outer edge of the hole; sliding the first slatconnector and the second slat connector to opposite ends of the slat sothat the slat connectors are spaced just wider than the hole; affixingthe first slat connector and the second slat connector to the back sideof the surface on an outer edge of the hole; wherein the one or moreapertures have one or more pawls; wherein the tension pin has aplurality of teeth; inserting the tension pin into the one or moreapertures such that the plurality of teeth of the tension pin ratchetpast the one or more pawls of the one or more apertures; wherein thetension pin is prevented from sliding back out of the one or moreapertures by the one or more pawls; indenting and tensioning the patchtowards the slat by pushing the tension pin into the one or moreapertures; wherein the patch is a flat fiberglass mesh repair patch; andpreferably, applying a drywall compound on the indented and tensionedpatch.

Alternatively, the method includes: wherein the tension pin has a one ormore nodes; inserting the tension pin into the one or more aperturessuch that the one or more nodes of the tension pin slide past the one ormore apertures; and wherein the tension pin is restricted from slidingback out of the one or more apertures; indenting and tensioning thepatch towards the slat by pushing the tension pin into the one or moreapertures; and wherein the patch is a flat fiberglass mesh repair patch.

Other embodiments of the invention include the use of two or more slats.The slats may be telescoping so that a smaller product can be packagedand sold. Alternatively, the one or more slats may have a pin interfaceor slider that accepts and/or engages with the pin.

In another embodiment of the invention, the slat, connectors, or pininterface slider engages with an interior wall beam or the inside of anopposite dry wall.

Alternatively, the engagement mechanism for the connectors can be spikesor hooks, rather than an adhesive.

In another embodiment of the invention, the tension pin may be attachedto an interior structure of the wall or an opposite drywall board.Alternatively, the tension pin may have a large flat head that is turnedaround, covered with an adhesive, and attached to an interior backsideof the opposite drywall inside of the hole so that the sharp tipprotrudes outside the hole that is to be repaired. An adhesively coatedmesh is applied over the hole with the tension pin puncturing the centerof the patch. A tension disk is pushed inward tightening the mesh, likea cable tie, holding the mesh tight. The tip of the tensioning pin maybe cut flush, as close to the mesh as possible, and filled. Thisembodiment is especially useful with hollow core doors and fiberglassshower repairs. Epoxy resins, plastic, or plastic fillers, such asBondo® can be used instead of plaster or drywall compound.

In another embodiment of the invention, the slat or connectors may beattached to the interior of the wall by screwing and countersinking twoor more hollow wall plastic anchors through the wall and then attachingthe slat or connectors to the anchors. Alternatively, the portion of thewall anchor that protrudes inward can accept a bungee cord, plasticcable tie, turnbuckle, spring, rubber band, plastic or metal band withholes, which can be stretched or extended inside the hole from one wallanchor to the other. This device located between the wall anchors may bemanually tightened by twisting or winding the device until properlytensioned, if additional tension is necessary. The center of the devicecan be made to accept a mechanical tensioning device such as atensioning pin to pull the mesh inward tightening the patch.

In another embodiment of the invention, the tension patch can be made ina roll to cover long channels created in walls for installing cable,electrical wiring, plumbing, etc. Multiple slats may be installed alongthe inside of the wall channel at reasonable intervals (20-50 cm, asneeded). The rolled mesh is then applied over the entire channel.Multiple solid rods can be attached with a tension pin starting from oneslat to the next and tightened until the mesh is pulled inward creatingan indentation along the entire channel and then the long strip of meshis covered with plaster.

Another embodiment of the invention takes into account pipes protrudingfrom the inside of the wall to the outside of the wall for plumbing,such as angle stops under a sink, or interior fire sprinklers, whichsometimes have holes in the wall that need to be repaired around thepipe. The mesh may be cut with an appropriate size hole in the patch,and a slit from the hole to one side of the mesh to position the patcharound the pipe and against the wall covering the hole. A round disktension device with a hinge on one side is opened and snapped snugglyinto place around the pipe and slid forward toward the mesh until themesh is properly tensioned and indented beyond the outside surface ofthe wall. The disk may have teeth that protrude into the mesh to anchorand affix the disk to the mesh. This keeps the disk from sliding insidethe hole without the mesh and from slipping by the disk duringinstallation. The patch is then completed with drywall compound.

In another embodiment, of the invention the mesh patch, rather thanbeing completely coated with adhesive on a back side, is only coated ona rim of the patch. This allows better penetration of the drywallcompound into the mesh, which, when hardened, provide a stronger repair.

In another embodiment of the invention, only one end of the slat isattached to the interior of the wall. Alternatively, the slat may use aclip to non-adhesively attach to the rim of the hole to be repaired.

In another embodiment of the invention, the tensioning pin and slat mayprovide magnetic attraction to tension the mesh between them.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the limitations ofthe prior art.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mechanically tensionedwall patch that is simple, easy to use, professional grade, andinexpensive.

One of the problems that the present invention solves is how to indentand hold steady a mesh wall patch that is strong enough to support theweight of a drywall compound so that it can be used to smoothly repair ahole in a surface, such as dry wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a perspective view of one embodiment of theinvention and shows the patch applied to a hole.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a cross-section view of one embodiment ofthe invention and shows the patch mechanically indented and tensioned.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a perspective view of a slat and tensionpin of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a side perspective view of a slat andtension pin of one embodiment of the invention and shows the tension pinwith nodes.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a perspective view of a slat with a pawland tension pin with teeth of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a perspective view of one embodiment of theinvention and shows a wood slat and a screw.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a cross-section view of one embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a cross-section view of one embodiment ofthe invention and shows the hole after it is repaired.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description of various embodiments of theinvention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide athorough understanding of various aspects of one or more embodiments ofthe invention. However, one or more embodiments of the invention may bepracticed without some or all of these specific details. In otherinstances, well-known methods, procedures, and/or components have notbeen described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects ofembodiments of the invention.

While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of thepresent invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe following detailed description, which shows and describesillustrative embodiments of the invention. As will be realized, theinvention is capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, allwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.Accordingly, the screen shot figures, and the detailed descriptionsthereof, are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and notrestrictive. Also, the reference or non-reference to a particularembodiment of the invention shall not be interpreted to limit the scopeof the invention.

In the following description, certain terminology is used to describecertain features of one or more embodiments of the invention. Forinstance, the term “drywall compound” refers to any substance that canbe used to patch a hole in a wall or other surface, including, but notlimited to, any putty, spackle, mud, joint compound, plastic, resin,plaster, veneer plaster, plaster of paris, or other mixture of water,limestone, expanded perlite, ethylene-vinyl acetate polymer, gypsum,and/or attapulgite.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a perspective view of one embodiment of theinvention and shows the patch applied to a hole. As shown in FIG. 1, theinvention is a tensioned repair patch for a hole 5 in wall 10 and ispreferably comprised of a patch 20, adhesive 22, indent 23, drywallcompound 24, slat 40, tension pin 50, and apertures 60. Slat 40 isinserted into hole 5 and affixed to the back side of the wall on theouter edge of the hole. Slat 40 is preferably made out of plastic, butit may be made out of any natural or synthetic material, including wood,without deviating from the scope of the invention. Back 40 is preferablyadhesively affixed to the back side of the wall with a strong andpermanent adhesive. However, any fastening means may be used, including,but not limited to straps, zip-ties, chains, clips, binders, bungees,cords, ropes, strings, cables, fasteners, staples, hook and loop,friction, bands, latches, stitches, snaps, wenches, glue, other naturalor synthetic chemical adhesives, adhesive tape, heat bonding, chemicalbonding, crimps, clamps, or ultrasonic welding, without deviating fromthe scope of the invention. Indeed, although a strong permanent adhesiveis the preferred way to adhere, affix, attach, or connect the presentinvention to the wall or surface to be repaired, it should be understoodthat any attachment or connection means may be used.

FIG. 1 shows how patch 20 is preferably adhesively affixed over hole 5such that the entire hole is covered. As shown in FIG. 1, patch 20 ispreferably a thin fiberglass thread mesh repair patch. The mesh repairpatch may be pre-cut patch or cut from a large roll of mesh. Tension pin50 is inserted through patch 20 and into one of the apertures 60 in slat40. As tension pin 50 is pushed further into apertures 60, patch 20 ismechanically tensioned and indented towards slat 40, forming indent 23.After patch 20 has been indented, a drywall compound 24 is applied tocomplete the repair of the hole. The tensioned and indented patch 20allows a smoother and faster repair on the hole to be performed.

Although patch 20 is preferably a fiberglass mesh repair patch, itshould be understood that patch 20 may be made out of any material andmay be solid non-mesh patch without deviating from the scope of theinvention. In a non-limiting example, patch 20 may be drywall tape orreinforced tape.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a cross-section view of one embodiment ofthe invention and shows the patch mechanically indented and tensioned.As shown in FIG. 1, the invention is a tensioned repair patch for a hole5 in wall 10 and is preferably comprised of a patch 20, adhesive 22,indent 23, drywall compound 24, slat 40, tension pin 50, slat connectors100. FIG. 2 shows how slat connectors 100 have a flat surface 101 thatis affixed to a back side of the wall 10 via adhesive 103. Slatconnector 100 is preferably adhesively affixed to the back side of thewall 10. However, any connection means may be used. Alternatively, theslat 40 may be directly attached to the back side of the wall 10. FIG. 2also shows how slat connector 100 preferably includes an encompassingportion 102 that allows the slat connector 100 to slidably connect andmove along the length of slat 100.

FIG. 2 shows how the tension pin 50 preferably includes a head end 51, afree end 52, and a plurality of nodes 55. The tension pin 50 ispreferably attached to the patch 20 such that the head end rests on afront side of the patch 20. It should be understood that the tension pin50 may engage with the patch 20 in any manner so long as the tension pin50 indents the patch 20 towards the slat 40. The free end 52 of thetension pin is inserted into one of the apertures 60 (shown in FIG. 1).The tension pin is pushed or even forced into one of the apertures suchthat one or more of the nodes 55 slide past the aperture. Thisratcheting effect causes the patch 20 to indent inwards towards theslat. Preferably the nodes restrict the ability of the tension pin toslide back out of the apertures. Although only one tension pin is shown,it should be understood that any number of tension pins may be used.

FIG. 2 shows the more flexible the patch 20 is the greater the need toprovide tension to the patch so that a smooth layer of drywall compoundmay be applied. FIG. 2 shows how a user has started to fill indent 23with drywall compound 24.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a perspective view of a slat and tensionpin of one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 shows that the slat 40preferably has two slat connectors 100 that are slidable along thelength of slat 40. In this manner the slat connectors may be positionedjust wider than the hole that is being repaired. Slat connectors 100preferably have flat surface 101, and encompassing portions 102. FIG. 3also shows how slat 40 preferably has a plurality of apertures 60running along its length. In this manner, the slat is able to accept theinsertion of one or more tension pins 50 anywhere along its length. Asshown in FIG. 3, the tension pin is preferably inserted between the twoslat connectors. Finally, FIG. 3 shows how tension pin 50 preferably hasa head end 51, a free end 52, and nodes 55. The free end is insertedinto one of the apertures 60 and the nodes allow the user to ratchet thetension pin 50 into the apertures 60 without having the tension pin 50slide back out of the apertures 60.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a side perspective view of a slat andtension pin of one embodiment of the invention and shows the tension pinwith nodes. FIG. 4 shows tension pin 50 inserted into slat 40 with slatconnector 100 behind tension pin 50. FIG. 4 shows how node 55 isrestricting the ability of tension pin 50 from sliding back out of theaperture.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a perspective view of a slat with a pawland tension pin with teeth of one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5shows another embodiment of the invention with tension pin 150 and slat45. FIG. 5 shows how slat 45 may include scores 175. The scores 175allow the user to easily trim or snap off portions of the slat 45 tomake slat 45 shorter and better fit into to the outside edge of thehole.

FIG. 5 also shows how tension pin 150 may have a plurality of teeth 155and apertures 61 have a pawl 63. In this embodiment, the teeth 155ratchet past pawl 63 when tension pin 150 is inserted into apertures 61and the pawl prevents tension pin 150 from being withdrawn fromapertures 61.

FIG. 5 also shows how slat connector 100 preferably has an adhesive 103that is applied to flat surface 101. This allows the slat to be quicklyand permanently attached to the back side edge of the hole.

Preferably, the slat is made of a lightweight but strong plastic, but itshould be understood that the tension pin may be made from any naturalor synthetic material, including but not limited to: metal; metal alloy;wood or other fibrous plant product such as hemp, paper, or cardboard;glass; composite materials such as graphite, fiberglass, boron, oraramid fibers; admixtures of plastic resins combined with metal, metalalloy, wood or other fibrous plant product, glass, or compositematerials; plastic; animal materials such as wool, bone, or hardenedleather; or any combination of these materials, without departing fromthe scope of the present invention.

The tension pin preferably has nodes or teeth. However, the tension pinmay be any device that is insertable into or attachable to the slatapertures or the slat itself, including but not limited to, cable ties,screws, nails, bolts, studs, bits, cord, rope, and pins.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a perspective view of one embodiment of theinvention and shows a wood slat and a screw. As shown in FIG. 6, theinvention for patching a hole 5 in wall 10 may be comprised of patch 20,adhesive 22, slat 41, and tension pin 250. FIG. 6 shows that tension pin250 may be a screw and slat 41 may be made out of wood. Indent 23 isformed as tension pin 250 is screwed into slat 41, which may or may nothave apertures. Tension pin 250 may be comprised of a washer and ascrew. The screw is threaded through the center of the washer and thewasher provides additional surface area for tension pin 250 to indentthe patch 20 as the tension pin is screwed into slat 41.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a cross-section view of one embodiment ofthe invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the invention for patching a hole 5in wall 10 may be comprised of patch 20, adhesive 22, indent 23, slat41, slat connectors 105, and tension pin 250. FIG. 7 shows how slatconnectors 105 are attached to the back side of wall 10, just outsidethe edge of hole 5, by adhesive 103. FIG. 7 also shows how tension pin250 has a head end 251 and free end 252. Head end 251 tensions andindents patch 20 as free end 252 is screwed into slat 41.

Because the patch 20 is held firmly in place by the anchored tension pin252, the present invention is less cumbersome and requires fewer stepsand less drying and curing time to complete a repair project, whichmakes it superior to the prior art.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a cross-section view of one embodiment ofthe invention and shows the hole after it is repaired. As shown in FIG.8, the invention for patching a hole 5 in wall 10 may be comprised of apatch 20, adhesive 22, tension pin 250, drywall compound 800, and paint801. FIG. 8 shows how a drywall compound may be smoothly applied to hole5, completely repairing hole 5. The drywall compound covers patch 20,tension pin 250 and head end 251 when applied. Typically, a layer ofpaint 801, which is not part of the claimed invention and is shown inbroken-line form, is applied over the smooth drywall compound tocomplete the repair.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the inventionhas been presented for the purposes of illustration and description.While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of thepresent invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe above detailed description, which shows and describes illustrativeembodiments of the invention. As will be realized, the invention iscapable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention.Accordingly, the detailed description is to be regarded as illustrativein nature and not restrictive. Also, although not explicitly recited,one or more embodiments of the invention may be practiced in combinationor conjunction with one another. Furthermore, the reference ornon-reference to a particular embodiment of the invention shall not beinterpreted to limit the scope the invention. It is intended that thescope of the invention not be limited by this detailed description, butby the claims and the equivalents to the claims that are appendedhereto.

1. A surface repair patch comprising: a patch; a tension pin; andwherein said patch is affixed to and substantially covers a front sideof a hole in a surface; wherein said tension pin has a head end and afree end; wherein said head end of said tension pin is attached to saidpatch; wherein said free end of said tension pin is attached to aninterior structure within said hole, such that said head end is pulledtoward said interior structure, which causes said patch to inwardlyindent.
 2. The surface repair patch of claim 1, further comprising: aslat; wherein said slat is inserted into said hole and is affixed to aback side of said surface on an outer edge of said hole; wherein saidfree end of said tension pin is attached to said slat such that saidhead end is pulled toward said slat, which causes said patch to inwardlyindent.
 3. The surface repair patch of claim 2, wherein said slat hasone or more apertures; and wherein said free end is attached to saidslat by inserting said free end into said one or more apertures.
 4. Thesurface repair patch of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of slatconnectors; wherein said plurality of slat connectors are slidablyconnected to said slat and are slidably adjustable along a length ofsaid slat; wherein said slat connectors are used to affix said slat tosaid back side of said surface on said outer edge of said hole.
 5. Thesurface repair patch of claim 4, wherein said patch is a fiberglassthread mesh repair patch that is adhesively affixed to said front sideof said hole.
 6. The surface repair patch of claim 5, wherein said slatis plastic and is scored.
 7. The surface repair patch of claim 4,wherein said one or more apertures have one or more pawls; wherein saidtension pin has a plurality of teeth; wherein said plurality of teeth ofsaid tension pin ratchet past said one or more pawls of said one or moreapertures; and wherein said tension pin is prevented from sliding backout of said one or more apertures by said one or more pawls.
 8. Thesurface repair patch of claim 4, wherein said tension pin has one ormore nodes; wherein said one or more nodes of said tension pin slidethrough said one or apertures such that said tension pin is restrictedfrom sliding back out of said one or more apertures.
 9. The surfacerepair patch of claim 2, wherein said tension pin is a screw and whereinsaid slat is wood.
 10. The surface repair patch of claim 2, wherein adrywall compound is applied to said patch.
 11. The surface repair patchof claim 2, wherein said surface is a drywall.
 12. A drywall mesh repairpatch comprising: a patch; a tension pin; a slat; two slat connectors;wherein said two slat connectors are slidably connected to said slat andare slidably adjustable along a length of said slat; wherein said slatis inserted into a hole in a drywall surface and wherein said slatconnectors are adhesively affixed to said back side of said surface onan outer edge of said hole; wherein said patch is a fiberglass threadmesh repair patch; wherein said patch is adhesively affixed to andsubstantially covers a front side of said hole; wherein said tension pinhas a head end, a free end, and a plurality of teeth; wherein said slathas one or more apertures; wherein said one or more apertures have oneor more pawls; wherein said head end of said tension pin is attached tosaid patch; wherein said free end of said tension pin is inserted intosaid one or more apertures and wherein said plurality of teeth of saidtension pin ratchet past said one or more pawls of said one or moreapertures; wherein said tension pin is prevented from sliding back outof said one or more apertures by said one or more pawls; and whereinsaid head end is pulled toward said slat as said free end is insertedinto said one or more apertures, which causes said patch to inwardlyindent; and wherein a drywall compound is applied to said indentedpatch.
 13. A method of applying a repair patch to a hole in a surface,comprising the steps of: affixing a slat to a back side of said surfaceon an outer edge of said hole; affixing a patch to a front side of saidhole; providing a tension pin, wherein said tension pin has a head endand a free end; attaching said head end of said tension pin to saidpatch; attaching said free end of said tension pin to said slat; usingsaid tension pin to mechanically indent said patch toward said slat. 14.The method of applying a repair patch to a hole in a surface of claim13, wherein said slat has one or more apertures; and wherein said freeend is attached to said slat by inserting said free end into said one ormore apertures.
 15. The method of applying a repair patch to a hole in asurface of claim 14, wherein said slat is further comprised of a firstslat connector and a second slat connector; wherein said first slatconnector and said second slat connector are slidably connected to saidslat and are slidably adjustable along a length of said slat; whereinsaid slat connectors are used to affix slat to said back side of saidsurface on an outer edge of said hole; sliding said first slat connectorand said second slat connector to opposite ends of said slat so thatsaid slat connectors are spaced just wider than said hole; affixing saidfirst slat connector and said second slat connector to said back side ofsaid surface on said outer edge of said hole.
 16. The method of applyinga repair patch to a hole in a surface of claim 15, wherein said one ormore apertures have one or more pawls; wherein said tension pin has aplurality of teeth; inserting said tension pin into said one or moreapertures such that said plurality of teeth of said tension pin ratchetpast said one or more pawls of said one or more apertures; and whereinsaid tension pin is prevented from sliding back out of said one or moreapertures by said one or more pawls.
 17. The method of applying a repairpatch to a hole in a surface of claim 16, further comprising the stepsof: indenting and tensioning said patch towards said slat by pushingsaid tension pin into said one or more apertures.
 18. The method ofapplying a repair patch to a hole in a surface of claim 17, wherein saidpatch is a flat fiberglass mesh repair patch.
 19. The method of applyinga repair patch to a hole in a surface of claim 14, wherein said tensionpin has a one or more nodes; inserting said tension pin into said one ormore apertures such that said one or more nodes of said tension pinslide past said one or more apertures; and wherein said tension pin isrestricted from sliding back out of said one or more apertures.
 20. Themethod of applying a repair patch to a hole in a surface of claim 19further comprising the steps of: indenting and tensioning said patchtowards said slat by pushing said tension pin into said one or moreapertures; and applying a drywall compound to indented and tensionedpatch.